Machine Inefficiencies and Supply Chain Risk Management in Australian Steel Manufacturing Firms

Running head: SUPPLY CHAIN RISK MANAGEMENT 1
Supply Chain Risk Management
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RESEARCH QUESTION DEFINITION REPORT
The research question is in relation to supplies chain risk management and it seeks to determine
whether the supply chains of Australian steel manufacturing firms are exposed to risks in the
existing global business network and I have identified a specific engineering risk which the
machine inefficiencies as a risk in supply chain management during the production process of
steel is can affect the whole supply chain of steel products to the target market (Brindley, C.,
2017). The question is framed as; Does machine inefficiencies affect the supply chain process of
steel in the Australian Steel company? And the hypothesis was that machine inefficiencies which
is a common risk in manufacturing industries is a major setback in the supply chain management
and strategies to mitigate this risk should be put in place by the industry because when the
machines stop to function, the whole production process stops and this affects the amount of
steel products available in the market from the company hence the company might lose its
customers to other competing firms within the same industrial setting(Zhao, L. and
Huchzermeier, A., 2018). The relevance of the research question is to help steel manufacturing
firms to maximize profits through minimization of the time wasted in repairing the damaged
machines which might be critical in the production process.
Machine inefficiency refers to the situation where the machine fails to operate normally as
a result of damages in some parts. When the damage occurs then we conclude that the machine is
inefficient (Keilhacker, M.L. and Minner, S., 2017). Damages might be in the following ways:
Motor malfunctioning; this is where the motors that runs the conveyer belts crucial for the
continuous flow of raw materials stop to function hence stopping the whole productivity process

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Wear and tear; this is where some of the parts that are crucial for the operation of certain
machine parts wear due to friction and lack of oiling
Break downs; this is a common setback inmost of the manufacturing firms where machines break
down hence whole process has to be delayed for repairing to be done.
Clogging, some parts may be blocked such as the oil filters hence the machines over heat
and stop to function hence delaying the manufacturing process in the firm.
Research Methodology.
According to Welman, C., Kruger, F. and Mitchell, B., 2005, a good research methodology
should be adopted by the researcher to come up with findings hence this part deals with the
methodology adopted for the study by the researcher. It includes the research approach and
design, the geographical area where the study was undertaken, description of the respondents of
the study selected by the researcher, tools and methods of data collection, variables studied, pilot
study and the statistical techniques used for analysis and interpretation of the data.
Data collection instruments
During the research to establish whether machine inefficiencies affect the supply chain process
in the steel industries in Australia the following instruments are going to be used to collect the
data (Neuman, W.L., 2013).